Plans for trams with air-conditioning, swipe-card entry, new stations and expanded routes are awaiting approval from the Government, according to Hongkong Tramways.
But company manager Frankie Yick Chi-ming said improvements to a transport system which carried almost one-twentieth of the population every day were unlikely while new government leaders were under the spotlight.
Among the proposals are a new route to Green Island, connection to the south of Hong Kong Island and a new line on any reclamation between Central and Wan Chai.
'We would like to run a new service to Hong Kong south, but it would require a private treaty grant to develop, Mr Yick said.
'And no one wants to talk about the grant at this critical time when so many questions of accountability will be asked.' The company was unhappy having to delay plans while the Government settled in. 'But what can you do?,' he said.
'We have all these objectives in our mind and we are waiting for preliminary signals from the Government.